Columbus Blue Jackets vs Washington Capitals Prediction, 3/21/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Washington Capitals

Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Location: Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

TV: NBC Sports Washington

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+188) Capitals (-225)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (21-41-7) are en route to Capital One Arena on Tuesday where they will play the Washington Capitals (33-31-7). The odds on this game have the Blue Jackets at +188 while the Capitals are coming in at -225. The total is set at 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will need a bounce back game after taking a 7-2 defeat against the Golden Knights their last time out. Columbus garnered 4 penalty minutes in this outing. The Blue Jackets could have played much better offensively in the defeat. Furthermore, they had 2 power play opportunities but weren't able to net one. In the matchup, they converted 2 out of the 37 shots they looked to score on.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have earned 206 power play tries (21st in the NHL) and have a total of 49 goals in those chances. The Blue Jackets thus far have had 2,430 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .891. Columbus has tried 2,052 shots and has a shot percentage of 8.8%. At even strength, the Blue Jackets let the opposition score 217 goals while earning 146 of their own. Columbus has tallied 183 power play opportunities and they have notched 35 goals out of those tries, giving them a rate of 19.13%. For the year, they sit with 49 points and their points percentage is sitting at .355. Pertaining to their scoring capabilities, the Columbus Blue Jackets have racked up 181 goals (29th in the National Hockey League) on the year and have given up 266.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Michael Hutchinson. Opponents have been able to score 355 goals against Hutchinson in his career and his goals against average per game is 2.84. Hutchinson has participated in 143 games over the course of his professional hockey career. His save percentage currently is .904 in his 7,503 minutes on the ice. He has compiled an overall mark of 55-57-16 and he was named the starter in 118 games. In his career, Hutchinson has accounted for 52 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .441. Hutchinson has had 3,711 shots against him and has accrued 3,356 total saves.

When they took the ice last, Washington faced the Wild in a game where the Capitals took a loss by a final score of 5-3. The Capitals earned 3 goals out of the 36 shots on goal they attempted. They had 4 power play attempts in this game and recorded 2 out of those opportunities.

Washington has taken 2,232 shots (14th in hockey) and has earned a shot percentage of 9.81%, while allowing the other team 2,157 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 83.08% on their oppositions 195 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 90.0%. They have a total of 220 power play chances and they have earned a power play percentage of 21.36%. The Capitals have racked up 172 goals at even strength and 47 goals (17th in the league) while on the power play. They have allowed 216 goals to be scored by of a combination of 183 goals at even strength and 33 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the season, the Washington Capitals have tallied 219 goals, 73 points, in addition to a points percentage of .514.

Across the ice you are going to see Darcy Kuemper between the pipes. He has gathered 9,058 saves out of 9,882 shots taken, giving him a rate of .917. Kuemper is the owner of a lifetime mark of 163-117-41 and has played in 347 games. He has started in 330 games and has played 19,584 mins. Kuemper's percentage of quality starts is 55.8% and he has 184 quality starting assignments in his professional career. Teams are averaging 2.52 goals per contest and he has yielded 824 goals in total.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+188)

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